The Music Education Council believes in universal inclusion and access to a quality, sustained, progressive and personalised lifelong music education in school, community and home.

Integration and creativity are at the heart of music education alongside effective collaborations and partnerships.

All children should have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument and sing in school

• Music must remain integral to the national educational strategy and remain part of the national curriculum.
• Music supports attainment in numeracy and literacy and MEC will ensure that Head Teachers and community leaders understand its importance in living a well balanced and enriching life.

Government and ring-fenced funding for music education must remain in place to 2015

• Music education is a front line service and funding must be maintained, targeted and sustained for long-term results.
• Ring-fenced funding must be available for local authorities to deliver a wide range of inclusive, high quality learning opportunities.
• We must not return to the 1990s when the partial devolution of funding away from local authorities led to the shrinkage of music provision.

We must develop the workforce for the future

• We need a skilled workforce to provide music in every school and community so that people of all ages have access to the best music education possible, whether formal or informal.